To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will sign his Department up to the UK Steel charter.

The Government is working hard to make sure that UK producers of steel have the best possible chance of competing for contracts.

In 2015, we introduced the steel procurement guidelines (Procurement Policy Note 16/15, revised in 2016) to level the playing field for UK steel producers by requiring public authorities to include wider social and economic benefits in their procurement decisions, not just price. This means UK firms can compete more effectively with international suppliers for major projects.

However, the Cabinet Office itself does not buy steel and consequently we will not be signing the UK Steel Charter.